The Green Innovations Awards 2014

NETFUND developed the Green Innovations Award (GIA) and has been awarding individuals and organizations that have demonstrated great innovativeness towards environmental conservation.

Overall NETFUND-GIA winner receive an additional KES 1m and a trophy. Other prices include 500,000 and 250,000/= prizes for 1st and 2nd winners for each category, certificates and incubation for some conservation based businesses that show promise.

Here are some of this years winners that i found to have some innovative initiatives.

Ecological sanitation (Ecosan)

Ecological sanitation (Ecosan) is an alternative holistic approach for healthy and economically sustainable sanitation where urine and fecal matter is regarded as a resource rather than waste. The waste is used as organic fertilizer or soil conditioner. This approach saves water, protects water quality, prevents pollution and returns valuable nutrients to the soil.

In the Aduwa project, use of Ecosan toilets instead of pit latrines has been adopted as the water table is high. The community has protected two springs that serve 15,000 people and reduced cases of water-borne diseases that were prevalent.

The core business of the initiative is collection of used/rejected tyres in Kericho, Nakuru and Nairobi. The company semi-processes the tyres by removing the wires. The semi-processed product is then sold and to be used to make petroleum which is in turn used as a cheaper source of energy.

Winner of the 2nd prize in the Small and Medium Enterprises Category (SMEs)

Michael Omondi established Takawiri Craft Enterprises in 2006. The enterprise uses water hyacinth from L. Victoria and re-cycled waste paper to make business cards, book covers, envelopes and gift bags. The production process is Eco-friendly as no chemicals are used. The project utilizes solar energy. Removal and utilization of water hyacinth is an intervention in the control and management of the weed. The enterprise creates employment.

Winner of the 3rd prize in the Small and Medium Enterprises Category (SMEs)

Muliru Farmers Conservation Group

Muliru Farmers Conservation Group promotes participatory environmental monitoring around Kakamega forest using aquatic macro invertebrates as indicators of water quality. It also encourages community bio-enterprise by encouraging growing and processing of a medicinal plant, Ocimum kilimandscharicum, by 360 farmers. The group uses the plant extract for processing ointments and balms that ease chest congestion, colds and flu. The processing plant uses solar energy.

The project also raises awareness about the value of conserving the Kakamega Forest and stimulates the participation of forest-adjacent communities in conservation activities. The group uses demonstration plots for training on good farming practices.

The project model has been shared with communities from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa and Nigeria. Over 830 people have visited the initiative to learn first- hand about the cultivation, production and marketing techniques of the medicinal plant.